Packers’ NFC North rivals are already hurting

By GERY WOELFEL
Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL.
Every team has them.
But, make no mistake about it, there are injuries that are more debilitating than others. Just ask the Green Bay Packers.
Last season, the Packers had their aspirations of advancing to the Super Bowl sabotaged by injuries, not the run-of-the-mill type ones, but rather devastating ones involving several of their most important players.
By GERY WOEFEL
When the Green Bay Packers faced their arch-rival Chicago Bears in an NFC wild-card game in January, one they eventually lost 31-27, the Packers were missing three of their elite players: edge rusher Micah Parsons, tight end Tucker Kraft and right offensive tackle Zach Tom, now known as Zach Bako-Bewele.
The Packers also didn’t have Devonte Wyatt, arguably their best defensive lineman, available for the Bears encounter.
Parsons, Bako-Bewele and Kraft are among the best players at their respective position in the league. Parsons just might the best defensive player in the NFL.
Injuries of that magnitude are difficult, extremely difficult, to overcome – as the Packers discovered last season.
While the 2026 NFL regular-season has yet to commence, the Packers have yet to incur any significant injury during the preseason.
That can’t be said for the three other teams besides the Packers who comprise the ultra-competitive NFC North: the Bears, Lions and Vikings.
Already, each of those teams has suffered at least one serious setback whether by injury or off-the-field issues.
To wit:
* The Bears secondary, which was outstanding last season when it recorded a league-best 23 interceptions, has suddenly been besieged by injuries.
The biggest one happened to Coby Bryant. He’ll be sidelined for approximately six weeks, maybe longer, after undergoing knee surgery.
The Bears signed Bryant (pictured above) to a hefty three-year, $40 million contract in March after he had played a key role in the Seattle Seahawks wining the Super Bowl.
Also, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon is on the physically unable to perform list with a calf injury.
* The Lions won’t have the services of Terrion Arnold, who was one of their starting cornerbacks. He was arrested in June on four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery.
While Arnold’s legal team is battling to keep Arnold out of prison (he could face life behind bars) and hoping to extend his pro career, it won’t be with the Lions, who released him shortly after his arrest.
The Lions traded up in the first round of the 2024 draft for the talented Arnold, making him the 24th overall selection.
He appeared in 24 games in his two seasons with the Lions, but only eight last season after suffering a concussion and then a season-ending shoulder injury in a Thanksgiving game against the Packers.
The Lions are now turning to rookie Keith Abney II to be Arnold’s replacement. Abney was chosen in the fifth round of the 2026 draft. He is an aggressive cover guy but diminutive at 5-foot-9.
* The Vikings, who had the third-best defense in yards per game (283.6) in the NFL last season, suffered a big setback last week when they lost three-time All-Pro safety Jamal Adams to a season-ending torn quadriceps injury.
The Vikings signed Adams, a 10-year veteran, to a one-year deal last month. The hard-hitting Adams was expected to play major minutes this season at safety and linebacker like he did last season for Las Vegas.
The Vikings are also unsure of the status of Harrison Smith, who is contemplating whether to retire after a distinguished 12-year career.
The Vikings’ secondary has other issues as well. On Thursday, their projected starting safety Theo Jackson was injured in practice and was helped to the medical tent. The extent of his injury is unknown.
Also, rookie safety Jakobe Thomas, who was the Vikings’ third-round draft pick in the 2026 draft, is dealing with a back injury. He has been listed as questionable for the Vikings-Packers regular-season opener
Whether the Vikings, Lions and Bears can compensate for their injuries remains to be seen, but it’s not exactly how these teams had hoped to see their promising seasons start.